The twist, evidently, in the NHL's latest proposal is that they're not asking for a salary rollback but instead increasing the amount of a player's salary that goes into escrow. So instead of the NHL saying "We're just going to shave 24% off the top like we did last time" it's more of a "We're going to withhold 24% more in safekeeping for you, you know like tax withholding, and you might actually see some of it back after the season. It's what the government does, right?" type of thing. If they're going to have that many teams over the new proposed cap, I wouldn't be too surprised if the cap hit turns into an actual dollars paid per season minus escrow amount in order to get the half of the league currently well over the proposed cap below it along w/ buy outs.

the NHL and NHLPA need to simplify the CBA. It's way more technical than it needs to be. Roll back all salaries 10%

The twist, evidently, in the NHL's latest proposal is that they're not asking for a salary rollback but instead increasing the amount of a player's salary that goes into escrow. So instead of the NHL saying "We're just going to shave 24% off the top like we did last time" it's more of a "We're going to withhold 24% more in safekeeping for you, you know like tax withholding, and you might actually see some of it back after the season. It's what the government does, right?" type of thing. If they're going to have that many teams over the new proposed cap, I wouldn't be too surprised if the cap hit turns into an actual dollars paid per season minus escrow amount in order to get the half of the league currently well over the proposed cap below it along w/ buy outs.

Isn't that basically rolling the salary back without calling it a rollback?

Either way the players end up with less money than the value of the contracts they signed with the league.

George Malik has coined my new favorite term - "TaliBettman." LOVE IT! Everything about this offseason has been, well, off. Signings taking forever, CBA talks moving along like a rookie trying to learn how to drive a clutch. Can't take a whole lot more.

Don Fehr says that collective bargaining talks with the league are "recessed."The executive director of the NHL Players' Association said the NHL requested the hiatus after the union presented its latest proposal....

If you want to get technical, it is only an option for the union. Even if they exercise it, their average share for the life of the new CBA will certainly be lower than 57%. Also, the definition of the hockey related revenue is being changed, so the players would get 57% of the lesser total, which would be a defacto decrease in salary.Not to mention the fact, that the current system was put in place by the NHL, who used the last lockout to roll over the players union and force them to accept this CBA. If you listened to Bettman speeches then, the expiring CBA was going to set he economic house of hockey in order. And now the system they devised is suddenly favoring the players? FYI, average share of wages, salaries etc. in all the other industries of American economy is near 70%. So the owners are already getting a good deal.

What it amounts to is that the league appears to try to shake down the players at the end of each CBA period for as much as they can get away with. And lock them out if they resist. Rinse, lather, repeat every 4-5 years.

Personally, I resent their bully tactics that result in my loss of enjoyment of my favorite sport.

The new proposal is just another way for the dwarf to say screw you. Does this moron really believe Fehr would stupid enough to not see the rollback?
I am starting to think some owners gave out these huge contracts expecting the players to take less again.
They won't roll over this time Europe would be more than happy to welcome them back. We need a new commiSsioner asap.
Owners should be embarassed by this offer.

made with a lot of skill but still lame in its spirit. There are few guys running this league and giving players their contracts. They will do whatever they want. Players must be pleased that they were not offered 20-80 revenew share with strict cap at 40M. And those thinking that these are indeed fans bringing all these money to the owners, think again. If you're a fan you'll buy their product irrespective of how long it takes to get the season running simply because hockey is a unique sport. If you don't care about hockey you don't even know that there is a chance of lockout. Uniting and the rest of bla-bla-bla only matters for NHLPA bosses whose main aim is to get their salaries and not look pathetic in the process.

Sweet. This dude was brought here for one reason, to punch people in the head - every other thing that he can do, other Wings can do better. I like that we have a head-puncher. The league has other, better head-punchers, but this one is ours. Better than nothing. Good work, Kenny!

I hope Fehr accepts Bettman's bid of 46% of league revenues under a few conditions: no salary rollbacks, and there must be a "soft cap" with "luxury tax" implemented.

I do not see how it is possible to players share of revenues to drop from 57% to 46% and not have salary rollbacks. Players are not going to get the full value from the contracts they have signed. They can name this process however they want but it amount to the same thing - less money for players.